Seven Lions

Jeff Montalvo, widely recognized by his stage name Seven Lions, is an American DJ and producer in the electronic dance music scene. Combining elements of trance, dubstep, and progressive house, Montalvo was nominated for America's Best DJ in 2014 and has achieved numerous top placements on EDM charts.

Born on March 31, 1987, in Santa Barbara, California, Montalvo began exploring music production early in life. His introduction to production came at age seven when his father purchased a keyboard and a Macintosh computer. Initially, Montalvo played guitar and bass, performing with various metal bands before transitioning to his true passion: electronic music production.

With a Fruity Loops production setup gifted by a friend, Montalvo taught himself EDM composition. In college, he was drawn to trance music, and after discovering a Tiësto CD and attending his first rave in 2007, he began crafting original trance pieces.

Adopting the stage name Seven Lions from Gene Wolfe’s 2003 fantasy novel Latro in the Mist, Montalvo started releasing music in 2010.

Launching with several remixes, including his well-received unofficial remix of Florence + The Machine’s “Cosmic Love,” Montalvo quickly rose to prominence in the EDM community. His "Cosmic Love" remix became officially recognized, leading to more opportunities. In 2011, his remix of Oceanlab’s “Satellite” paved the way to winning Above & Beyond’s official remix contest with “You Got To Go,” which peaked at No. 2 on Beatport’s Dubstep chart and received an official release.

In 2012, Montalvo created a remix of Above & Beyond’s “On My Way To Heaven” and debuted with the EP Polarize.

After signing with Skrillex’s label OWSLA, Montalvo released his second EP Days To Come, continuing to achieve No. 1 positions on Beatport’s Dubstep chart.

In May 2013, he collaborated with Mimi Page and Minnesota on the OWSLA track “Fevers” and released a remix of Röyksopp’s “Running To The Sea” in July. By August, Montalvo worked with Myon and Shane 54 on “Strangers” for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones soundtrack. The track, featuring Tove Lo, reached No. 32 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on SiriusXM BPM 51. In November, he explored a metal-infused side project, Gathering Darkness, producing “Serpent of Old.”

April 2014 saw the release of his third EP, Worlds Apart, through Casablanca Records, peaking at No. 76 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 2 on Top Electronic Albums.

In February 2015, Montalvo dropped singles “Lucy” and “The Fall” with Xilent, followed by his fourth EP, The Throes of Winter. Later that year, he released “Falling Away” and “Cusp” on Armada Music.

March 2016 marked the debut of his fifth EP, Creation, which topped the Top Electronic Albums chart. He collaborated with Said the Sky, ILLENIUM, and HALIENE on “Rush Over Me” in October and “Cold Skin” with Echos in November.

In June 2017, Montalvo released “Cold Hearted” with Kill The Noise and his sixth EP, Where I Won’t Be Found.

February 2018 marked the launch of his label Ophelia and its first single “Calling You Home.” The following month, he released the Ocean EP with Jason Ross. In May, he collaborated with Tritonal and Kill The Noise on “Horizon.”

In July, he released “Dreamin’,” followed by a collaboration with Blastoyz on “After Dark” and his seventh EP, Start Again, in August.

October brought collaborations with SLANDER and Dabin on “First Time,” followed by “Island” with Wooli and Trivecta in January 2019. March saw “The Blood” with Kill The Noise and April, “Sojourn” with Crystal Skies. August included work with Wooli and Excision on “Another Me” and MitiS on “Break the Silence.” His collaboration with Jason Ross, “Known You Before,” released in December.

In March 2020, Montalvo unveiled his eighth EP, Find Another Way. July brought “Don’t Wanna Fall” with Last Heroes and HALIENE and a collaboration with Jason Ross and Crystal Skies on “Foolish Of Me.”

February 2021 saw the release of his ninth EP, Seven Lions: 1999, offering a set of throwback trance remixes, followed by “Wild And Broken” in June, with Trivecta and Blanke.